….. that had issues with our local wildlife liaison officer. However, in the course of researching an article rebutting some ludicrous claims on how well Hen Harriers are doing and their lack of persecution in Bowland, we came across an interesting snippet on the National Anti-Snaring Campaign web site:-
“A Word of Warning… Treat Police Wildlife Liaison Officers With Caution. If you discover a wildlife crime your should ONLY contact a Police Wildlife Liaison Officer as a last resort, and even then with extreme caution.”
Now why would they say a thing like that? Well, the NASC assert that PC Thomas declined to investigate when he was given evidence of offences involving Larson traps on a NW estate. Maybe he had good reason – we just don’t know. One thing I can say is we’re not in the least bit surprised though!
Continue reading We thought it was just us ….
Our recent article Brink of Extinction: Harrier Numbers in England Crash drew scathing comment on claims made by Lancashire’s Police Wildlife Crime Officer, Duncan Thomas, from one of Britain’s most respected Hen Harrier Scientists, Brian Etheridge.
Continue reading Harrier Scientist pours scorn on claims by the Police Wildlife Crime Officer for Lancashire
Today we have received a copy of the 2008 report on the illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland during 2008. You can download the report in PDF format from the link at the bottom of this article.
We are obliged to the RSPB in Scotland for this report, and for permission to publish it here. If you think that this report is bad, we are informed that ’2009 is grim’.
We note that the RSPB thank the Scottish Police forces amongst others for their efforts in combating wildlife crime. Would that we could do the same for the Lancashire Police for their efforts – but we can’t – they’re part of the problem!
Continue reading The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2008
A “Press Release” issued by Natural England this week claims that Hen Harrier numbers in England are now at their lowest number since records began. Details here.
Just to show we always do our very best to put on record the other side of any arguement, we would like our readers to review the article published on the 4th November in Shooting UK and decide for themselves where the truth lies. We wish ALL our readers would pay particular notice to the last paragraph highlighting the claims of PC DUNCAN THOMAS, Wildlife Crime Officer for Lancashire.
We should all bear in mind in order to uncover the truth and therefore reach an accurate conclusion, in any police investigation, ALL the facts should be reviewed and taken into consideration before reaching any decision; in fact this is the duty of any investigating police officer. In the last two years members of the local raptor group have reported the destruction of 6 Bowland Peregrine eyries to the Wildlife Crime Officer. However due to other important duties and commitments to date the Wildlife Crime Officer has not investigated any of these incidents.
Perhaps more significantly, in view of PC Thomas’s claims relating to the lack of any Hen Harrier persecution in Bowland, the following information in our view casts doubt on the validity of his conclusions together with his limited expertise in such matters. We also feel it is important to highlight a claim by PC Thomas he made in The Shooting Times 28th June 2007. “I would love to detail the many success stories and to name the gamekeepers and estates that constantly produce quality numbers of Hen Harriers and other sensitive species.” We now challenge PC Duncan Thomas to come clean and expalin what has happened to these extra Hen Harriers, if they ever existed at all! To be blunt, the evidence does not support the claims made by the Wildlife Crime Officer what so ever.
In July two expert field workers, with over 80 years practical experience of Hen Harriers between them, found a Harrier nest containing the corpses of 3 Hen Harrier chicks. For several weeks both conservationists had been keeping a close watch on the development of this nest and it’s valuable content on behalf of the RSPB. PC Thomas was informed of the situation and took over the investigation on behalf of United Utilities the owner of the moorland where the nest was located. Crucially, although both field workers felt they had important information supporting their view the disappearance of both adult Hen Harriers and the deaths of all 3 offspring had been caused by persecution, for some curious reason the officer did not iterview these two critical witnesses or take witness statements from them before closing the case. PC Thomas decided after receiving an autopsy report and having made his own examination of the dead chicks and nest, that the chicks had been killed by a fox, and in his view therefore the case was closed.
Shooting UK Article.
Continue reading Brink of Extinction: Hen Harrier Numbers in England Crash.
….. that had issues with our local wildlife liaison officer. However, in the course of researching an article rebutting some ludicrous claims on how well Hen Harriers are doing and their lack of persecution in Bowland, we came across an interesting snippet on the National Anti-Snaring Campaign web site:-
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